All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Kilombero Nothobranch

Nothobranchius kilomberoensis

Also known as kilombero killifish, nothobranchius kilomberoense, kilomberoensis, n. kilomberoensis, kilombero nothobranchius, ノソブランキウス・キロンベロエンシス, 基隆贝罗假鳃鳉

This is a small annual killifish from seasonal pools in the Kilombero valley of Tanzania. Males have scales edged with red over a bluish body and red fins with pale or yellowish edges, while females are plain brownish grey. Killifish keepers keep it for the bright male colours and the unusual annual life cycle.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

9 to 18 months

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Tanzania (Kilombero River floodplain, Rufiji basin)

Breeding

Pairs or trios spawn into a peat substrate. The eggs are then stored slightly damp for several months before being wetted to hatch. It is fairly easy to breed if you are patient with the dry incubation stage, and the fry grow quickly on newly hatched brine shrimp.

Good to know

Males can be rough with each other and with females, so give the tank plenty of cover and avoid keeping it with long-finned fish. It lives a short time naturally, and most stock is passed around between killifish hobbyists rather than sold in shops.